bus pass and ticket information
The College works in partnership with Cornwall Council and Sustrans to promote active and sustainable travel.
Truro and Penwith College students travel on an enhanced public bus service that includes more services and more direct routes straight to our campuses, making it easier for students to arrive at college later or leave earlier if their timetable allows.
All College bus passes are purchased via the First Bus Travel App and honoured by First Bus & Transport for Cornwall, so can be used on all services regardless of the operator. These include Go Cornwall Bus, Cornwall by Kernow (First), and OTS.Â
PLEASE NOTE: Public networks are subject to change. Please check carefully before you purchase your pass/tickets. Bus providers usually release their latest College travel guides and timetables after GCSE Results Day. We do not hold information on Cornwall College's arrangements.
Follow the link here for transport to the STEM and Health Skills Centre adjacent to Callywith College.
16-18 student travel bursary rates
We understand that many students travel a long distance to college and that the costs of travel are high. The College can help most students with the costs of travel.
Bursary rates shown are for the 2024/25 year only. Contribution rates are based on anticipated bus pass costs charged by the bus company which are subject to annual increases. The bus pass for the academic year 2024/25 will cost £700 prior to any contribution rate being applied.
If your household income is £70,000 or less per year and your course qualifies, then you could be eligible for a college bursary to support with travel, meals and kit/equipment (please see below for further details).
If you are choosing not to apply for a bursary or students from families with household incomes exceeding £70,000, who are not eligible for government bursary support, you can purchase the annual 'Truro and Penwith College Unlimited' bus pass in the First Bus App.
A. Families with an annual household income up to £25,000 will receive an annual bursary award of £600* towards their bus pass
B. Families with an annual household income between £25,001 and £35,000 will receive an annual bursary award of £550* towards their bus pass
C. Families with an annual household income between £35,001 and £70,000 will receive an annual bursary award of £400* towards their bus pass.
19+ Adult Bursary
Access to HE Diploma students aged 19+ can apply for the adult bursary.
Eligible students may receive an attendance bursary, a free college meal on days you are timetabled to be in college and a fuel allowance or free bus pass and, if applicable, help towards the cost of childcare.
The annual household income threshold for the adult bursary is £25,000 or below. If living independently or with a partner, the household income must be declared when making an application. If you are living with your parents whilst completing the Access to HE Diploma you will be assessed based on your income.
applying for a student bursary
We understand that many students travel a long distance to college and that the costs of travel are high. The College can help most students with the costs of travel.
You can now apply to see if you are eligible for bursary support and make a bursary application via PayMyStudent. Please complete as follows:
- Open the link and select the 24/25 academic year
- Register with the following information: - Student ID, Date of birth, create password, confirm password
- An email will be sent to the email address originally used for the college application. E.g. the first Next of Kin email.
- Within this email there will be an activation link which will then allow you to login to the portal and start your application.
- Please complete the application and upload household income evidence for parents/carers.
- We will then email you with confirmation of the award once we have processed your application. This will include details of how to purchase your bus pass. Due to the volume of applications this could be as late as the end of July.
Download our application guide below for more detailed instructions on how to apply.
PLEASE NOTE: To guarantee the processing of your bursary application in time for start of term, the deadline for receipt of your completed bursary application is 22 August. If this deadline is not met, you may not receive your bursary allocation before the start of term and will have to make your own arrangements to travel until your bursary application is approved. For further information please see our Financial Support Policy.
applying for travel
Bus Pass
Student bus passes will be available to purchase on the online payment system after 27 August 2024 and where applicable you will need to have your Bursary approved before buying your bus pass. Students without a bus pass will have to pay the driver each day for their bus travel or pay for a season ticket - details of this are above.
You can make your bus pass payment via the College's online store to receive a unique code. Details will be sent in your bursary confirmation email.
This code should then be used through the First Bus Travel smartphone App to receive your subsidised bus pass. Please follow the instructions in the College Travel Guide to activate your ticket. (If you are not using the annual 'Truro and Penwith College Unlimited' bus pass, you can purchase tickets daily, weekly or monthly in the First Bus App under 'Cornwall Network'.)
Important: The unique code should only be entered onto the First app on the phone of the person who will be using the bus pass, bursary supported tickets are not transferable between devices.
The College's friendly Student Services team is available to help: Truro College and STEM & Health Skills Centre, Bodmin | Penwith College.
Travel Assistance
While most journeys to education/training providers, including those involving students with Special Educational Needs/Disabilities (SEND), can be undertaken independently and without the need for travel assistance, some students with Education Health Care Plans (EHCPs) and/or other registered disabilities/conditions may require travel assistance to access College. This may be in the form of a Disability bus pass, assisted travel or mileage allowances and these arrangements must be applied for directly with the Local Authority and are considered on a case-by-case basis. Please visit Post-16 Travel Assistance - Cornwall Council for full details including the post-16 transport policy and an easy read fact sheet.
Driving and parking at college
Please note that there is an automated number plate recognition system in place at Truro College between the hours of 6am and 4.30pm. Visitors are entitled to 30 mins for pick-up/drop-off and all other visitors must register their vehicle at a designated Reception point.
We are not able to offer student parking on Truro campus, except for those who meet specific eligibility criteria. Please follow the link below to view the eligibility criteria. Parking is available at the Langarth Park and Ride at Threemilestone. It is free if you walk into College via the retail park or a cost per day if you use the Park and Ride service. At your Induction Day, you will be given login details and information on how to apply if you meet the required eligibility.
Eligibility criteria is currently for Truro College parking only. Students must apply for a permit via the college intranet for parking at Penwith College and the STEM & Health Skills Centre, Bodmin. Please talk directly to staff at either college about their process for this.
